First Sunday of Lent

St. Francis Xavier Cathedral

The liturgical season of forty days which begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with the celebration of the Paschal Mystery (Easter Triduum). Lent is the primary penitential season in the Church's liturgical year, reflecting the forty days Jesus spent in the desert in fasting and prayer.

Catechism of the Catholic Church (#540, 1095,1438)

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross will be held at 6:30 p.m. beginning on Friday, March 2, 2018. There will be no Stations of the Cross during the week of the annual Archdiocesan Lenten Mission.

Upcoming Archdiocesan Events

Lenten Mission

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese will host its City-Wide Lenten Mission on February 19-23, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. Loyola Hall, Gladstone Road. The theme is: “Our Vocation to Be Missionary Disciples.”

On February 24, 2018, St. Martin Monastery will have a yard sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. All are invited to this event.

Religious Education News

CCD

The CCD program will be on mid-term break from the 23rd – 26th February 2018.

On Monday, 19th February 2018, there will be no CCD classes due to the City-Wide Mission. All students are encouraged to attend the Mission.

Brownies & Scouts

The Brownies & Scouts will not meet on Saturday February 23th, 2018.

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Legion of Mary

The Legion of Mary group meet on Thursday’s at 5:30 p.m. in the Upper Room. New members are invited.

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Reflection

Noah endured the forty-day devastation of the flood. In a similar way, the Spirit today drives Jesus into the forty-day trial of the desert. Satan conspires to make Jesus compromise his relationship as Son toward his Father. But Jesus remembers how the flood ends with God’s promise, “I will establish my covenant with you.” The Father now perfects that promise in the flesh of his own Son who will “show sinners the way “so that “he might lead you to God.” The temptations make Jesus only more certain of his Sonship. Through our trials the Father’s care shines.